Oppressor Solstice Of Oppresion CD

One of the most notorious and, well, only death metal bands of note to emerge out of the Midwest during the '90s, Chicago favorites Oppressor made their debut with 1994's Solstice of Oppression -- a technically proficient but rather samey death metal effort which nevertheless earned them a decent following in that metal-starved period. Guttural vocals, de-tuned riffing, elaborate arrangements, and challenging percussion combine to create a gut-churning, bottom-end vortex, which is fittingly, errr...oppressive. Occasional acoustic guitars and dexterously performed lead breaks add coloring throughout, but still offer little respite from the onslaught perpetrated by tracks like "Eclipse Into Eternity" and "And the Angels Fell (The Suffering)." The atmospheric intro "Prelude to Death" is the only exception to the rule, but soon unleashes hell once again via subsequent album highlight "Genocide." All told, there are no real surprises here, but plenty of blood and guts to ruin Thanksgiving dinner nonetheless. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia

One of the most notorious and, well, only death metal bands of note to emerge out of the Midwest during the '90s, Chicago favorites Oppressor made their debut with 1994's Solstice of Oppression, a technically proficient but rather samey death metal effort which nevertheless earned them a decent following in that metal-starved period. Guttural vocals, de-tuned riffing, elaborate arrangements, and challenging percussion combine to create a gut-churning bottom-end vortex, which is fittingly errr...oppressive. Occasional acoustic guitars and dexterously performed lead breaks add coloring throughout, but provide little respite from the onslaught perpetrated by tracks like "Eclipse Into Eternity" and "And the Angels Fell (The Suffering)." The atmospheric intro "Prelude to Death" is the only exception to the rule, but soon unleashes hell once again via the subsequent album highlight, "Genocide." All told, there are no real surprises here, but plenty of blood and guts to ruin Thanksgiving dinner nonetheless. [Crash Music re-released Solstice of Oppression in 2002 with two bonus cuts, "Valley of Thorns" and "I Am Darkness," both of them demos for tracks that would feature in later albums.] ~ Eduardo Rivadavia

Recorded at Break Through Audio, Chicago, Illinois from November 2 to November 22, 1993. Originally released on Red Light (88369).

Oppressor: Tim King, Adam Zadel, Tom Schofield.

Personnel: Tim King (vocals, keyboards); Adam Zadel (guitar, acoustic guitar); Jim Stopper (guitar, acoustic 12-string guitar); Tom Schofield (drums).

Recording information: Break Through Audio, Chicago, IL (11/1993-??/1994).

Photographer: Brad Hall .

Oppressor: Tim King (vocals, keyboards, bass); Jim Stopper, Adam Zadel (acoustic & electric guitars); Tom Schofield (drums).